Barb-holding device



(No Model.)

T. W. EATON.

BARB HOLDING DEVICE. No. 254,292. Patented Feb. 28,1882.

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y DI E5 5 I i '9 I 2 I E55E5 I El in fences of the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS I/V. EATON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BARB-HOLDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 254,292, dated February 28, 1882. Application filed December 16, 1861. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS IV. EATON, of Chicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting Barb-Strips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to the devices employed in connection with the presses or other machinery whereby the barb-strips used class shown in patent to Edward M. Crandal, of date November 4, 1879, are severed from plates of sheet metal, to receive and take care of such strips after they are severed, so that the same may he compacted and conveniently kept without entanglement with each other, in such manner that they may be afterward readily and easily separated and fed to the twisting mechanism, by which they are intertwisted with the wire strands composing the fence-cable.

. Difficulty has heretofore been experienced in keeping these strips in good order as they fall from the cutting mechanism, owing to their peculiar nature, and hence I have been led to the making of the present invention, which consists in the combination, with the cutting mechanism, of the guides and keeping devices hereinafter described. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the cuttingmachine and the strip-receiving devices. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, with the devices for feeding the sheetmetal plate from which the barb-strips are formed removed. Fig. 3 is a section upon the line a: w of Fig. 2.

In said drawings, A represents a sheet of metal being fed to the cutting-off knives. It is fed-over a table, B, down an incline, B, and is intermittently propelled by the feed-rollers B B which are actuated by appropriatemechanism (not shown) to feed said sheet the width of the barb-strip at each movement.

The knife C is held in a proper carriage, C, which is reciprocated in the frame 0 by the toggles C and cranks C The stationary knife C is secured in any suitable manner to the incline B.

Immediately under the knives, and in position to catch or receive the barb-strips as they fall therefrom, are a number of inclined guides,

' D, with theirupper ends hooked over the crossrod 01 in the supporting part of the machine, and theirlower ends are supported by braces d. The manner of supporting these guides is, however, quite immaterial. They are formed of strips of metal set on edge, and are positioned relatively to the knives so that the barbs will fall edgewise thereon with their open angles astraddlc ofthe guides, and so they will be supported in a manner likely to prevent their tipping or losing their equilibrium.

The upper edges of the guides are preferably beveled, and they are connected to crossbars D to keep them rigid and prevent their moving from position. They receive the barbstrips in the order of their production by the knives, and by reason of their inclined position said strips slide down to the foot thereof, where the strips are received upon portable trays consisting ot'slideways or supports E, similar to the guides D, and'placed similarly,

'so the angles in the strips will straddle them in the same way, and suitable cross-framing, E. These trays are supported while being filled upon blocks E and in a position horizontal, or nearly so.

I find it useful to station a workman at the rear of this portable tray, who will take care of the strips as they accumulate at the foot of the guides D, and push them up close against one another upon the tray, weeding out the imperfect ones as they appear, and straightening such as come irregularly or out of position. When the tray, which has a raised piece, IE at one end, has been filled, it is removed and then another put in its place. The guides D, being stationary, always preserve their proper position relative to the knives. This is important, as any variation to either side of the true position would cause the strips to fall over when they alight, and thus be fruitful of difficulty if the press is operated at an ordinary speed.

It is not practicable to always accurately position a portable tray, and, moreover, it is desirable to have room in which to straighten out any disturbance which may occur in the regular procession of the severed strips, and such would not be afforded at all times if portable trays were placed directly under the press. Nor is it convenient to use portable trays where these permanent guides are placed.

I have spoken of the guides D as inclined. trays whereon the same are compactly stowed, 10 If other means th an gravity is employed to move of the stationary guides D, receiving the strips the strips away, they may be made horizontal. as they are severed and delivering them to the Fig. 3 illustrates the construction of the trays, substantially as set forth. 5 guides, as well as it does of the supports in the trays, as they me similar in all respects. THOMAS T I claim- Witnesses: The combination, with the cutting-machine H. M. MUNDAY,

for cutting the barb-strips and the portable T. EVERETT BROWN. 

